Diverse Communities and Intersectionality Working Group

The Diverse Communities and Intersectionality (DCI) Working Group brings together representatives from across the community sector, the Victim Survivor Advisory Council and Victorian Government departments. The purpose of the group is to provide guidance and advice on the needs of diverse community groups as they relate to family violence prevention and response, and social service reform.

For the purpose of the DCI Working Group, diverse communities include:

Many factors combine to create each individual’s identity and experience. This diversity within the Victorian community is highly valued and is a source of great strength and opportunity. The Victorian Government also recognises that individual and structural power imbalances exist within our society that often mean a person who identifies with one or more of these parts of our community can be at increased risk of experiencing family violence.

These intersecting identities will also alter the way a person experiences family violence and the accessibility of supports and services they need to stay safe and recover from violence. The DCI Working Group is therefore supporting government to build an intersectional approach into its family violence reforms. This will mean that a new family violence system is able to understand and respond to the needs of all Victorians.

The DCI Working Group membership includes representatives from the following organisations and groups: